California Citizens Encouraged To Avoid The Ocean As Large Waves Expected To Impact Shorelines
California residents are currently being urged to avoid shorelines and structures such as wharves and piers as 20 to 30 foot waves are expected to impact the northern Pacific coast throughout the rest of the week and into the New Year.
The National Weather Service advisory came after the wharf in Santa Cruz experienced a 150 foot section collapsing from high waves earlier this week. Debris from multiple storms are also being blamed for the death of a resident in Santa Cruz county.
The coast guard in southern California announced that it has suspended the search for two men who went missing after a fishing trip off the coast of Palos Verdes, NBC Los Angeles reported. They also suspended the search after finding wreckage from a boat that was believed to belong to the fishermen.
“Inexperienced swimmers should stay out of the water due to life-threatening surf conditions. Never turn your back on the ocean,” the NWS warned in the Bay Area.
High surf and rip currents are being reported throughout the Los Angeles area.
Santa Cruz also experiences three city workers falling into the ocean when a large section of a pier they were working on collapsed and floated away during a high surf this week. Luckily the workers survived with minor injuries.
“Nearly 20 miles to the south, at Sunset State beach, California state parks and fire crews responded at around 11.30am on Monday about a man trapped under debris. The man was pronounced dead at a local hospital,” a spokesperson for the Santa Cruz county sheriff’s office said.
“It’s total chaos. I just did a drive through the south side of town and the beaches are all tore up. It looks like a bomb went off,” a Santa Cruz resident told the Los Angeles Times.
Eric Mastrota is a Contributing Editor at The National Digest based in New York. A graduate of SUNY New Paltz, he reports on world news, culture, and lifestyle. You can reach him at eric.mastrota@thenationaldigest.com.